BT  601  . L68  1919 
Lowry,  Houston  W. 

Mary  the  mother  of  Jesus 


Lew 


I 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2019  with  funding  from 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


https://archive.org/details/marymotherofjesuOOIowr 


Mary  the  Mother 
of  Jesus 


HOUSTON  W.  LOWRY 


BOSTON 

RICHARD  G.  BADGER 

THE  GORHAM  PRESS 


Copyright,  1919,  by  Houston  W.  Lowry 


All  Rights  Reserved 


MADE  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA 


The  Gorham  Press,  Boston,  U.  S.  A. 


TO 

THE  MEMORY  OF 
MY  MOTHER 
H.  W.  L. 


I 


INTRODUCTION 


npHE  mother  of  Jesus  with  the  progress  of 
zealous  opinion  has  been  put  higher  than  her 
claims.  From  real  womanhood  she  has  been  ex¬ 
alted  to  artificial  godhead;  and  to  trace  the  process 
is  merely  to  observe  the  contact  of  Christianity 
with  paganism.  Converts  trained  to  heathen  wor¬ 
ship  were  slow  to  quiet  their  craving  for  a  feminine 
deity,  and  who  else  within  the  horizon  of  the 
Gospel  could  fill  the  terms  as  the  elect  woman  of 
Nazareth?  Upon  the  artless  pages  of  the  evan¬ 
gelist  a  glow  of  tradition  and  fancy  was  turned, 
and  soon  with  the  genius  of  chisel  and  brush  the 
visible  form  was  provided  for  the  bended  knee 
and  sacred  kiss  of  multitudes. 

All  to  be  known  of  Mary  from  the  Scriptures 
is  scant  material  to  win  her  devotion  to  the  ex¬ 
treme  of  worship  or  to  ground  for  her  the  right  of 
intercession.  The  trustworthy  narrative  gives  her 
no  independent  prominence  and  introduces  her 
merely  as  a  link  in  the  chain  of  Messianic  purposes. 
She  is  mentioned  only  by  the  evangelists.  She 
fails  to  appear  altogether  within  the  record  of  the 
epistles.  John  cherished  her  as  his  own  mother, 
taking  her  into  his  personal  care  at  the  cruci¬ 
fixion  of  Christ;  and  yet,  writing  after  the  rest 
were  gone  and  making  up  for  their  omissions,  he 
did  not  include  any  note  even  of  her  death.  Clearly 
in  her  own  time  Mary  was  regarded  with  but  a 
neighborly  interest  and  reverence. 

5 


6 


Introduction 


Practically,  it  seems,  pains  were  taken  to  guard 
the  knowledge  of  her  from  abuse.  Christ’s  own 
treatment  of  his  mother  is  more  than  suggestive; 
it  is  conclusive.  It  is  at  least  significant  that  any 
time  Mary  comes  into  the  narrative  later  than  the 
period  of  her  son’s  infancy  she  merits  and  receives 
a  kind  of  reproof  at  his  hands.  She  chided  him 
as  a  lad  for  lingering  behind  in  Jerusalem  instead 
of  joining  the  caravan  with  the  rest  on  the  way 
home,  and  she  heard  him  express  surprise  at  her 
failure  to  associate  him  with  his  Father’s  house. 
And  when  she  hinted  for  his  supernatural  help  at 
the  marriage  feast  in  Cana,  was  she  not  given  to 
understand  that  she  had  committed  some  impro¬ 
priety?  Greatest  of  all  was  her  blunder  with  his 
mature  and  popular  ministry.  There  was  a  rumor 
industriously  spread  that  he  had  gone  insane,  and 
she  appeared  with  the  other  members  of  her  family 
to  take  him  in  charge.  For  once  at  least  she  lost 
faith,  and  she  heard  him  say  across  the  crowd  that 
even  mother  and  household  could  not  with  him 
displace  disciples. 

Mary’s  own  confession  is  pertinent.  There 
were  mysteries  in  her  life  too  profound  for  her  to 
fathom.  She  could  only  retain  them  in  her  heart 
day  by  day  and  come  ever  more  into  their  meaning. 
Appreciation  at  last  inspired  lofty  praise,  and  as 
she  entered  the  home  of  her  cousin  Elizabeth  in 
the  hill  country  of  Judea  she  burst  into  song,  com¬ 
bining  aptly  the  tones  of  humility  and  elevation. 
There  was  full  confidence  with  her,  built  upon 
unmistakable  promise  that  she  should  bear  a  Holy 


Introduction 


7 


Son,  but  she  knew  equally  that  she  would  find  in 
him  her  sufficient  Savior.  Was  she  not  sinner 
with  the  mass  of  human  kind? 

Surely  there  is  no  occasion  to  disassociate  Mary 
from  the  ranks  of  common  womanhood.  Any 
authoritative  or  rational  encouragement  is  wanting. 
The  mother  of  Jesus  was  not  essentially  superior 
to  any  other  Mary.  She  is  little  disposed  to  claim 
worship  or  hear  prayer.  Mariolatry  proceeds 
without  Scriptural  warrant,  and  honesty  enters  pro¬ 
nounced  protest  against  the  wicked  abuse. 

With  the  reaction  from  the  Roman  extreme 
there  has  been  swing  about  as  far  the  other  way. 
The  wrong  of  regarding  Mary  too  highly  has  its 
counterpart  in  treating  her  to  neglect.  To  give 
her  more  than  her  due  is  hardly  worse  than  to 
ignore  her  altogether.  Other  characters  in  Scrip¬ 
ture  invite  and  receive  close  acquaintance,  and  why 
should  the  woman  nearest  by  nature  to  Christ  and 
his  Gospel  be  left  deliberately  out  of  view?  The 
women  generally  of  the  Bible  are  introduced  and 
given  value,  and  should  the  mother  of  Jesus  be 
counted  an  exception  and  passed  over  in  silence? 
There  are  other  Marys  in  the  Old  Testament  and 
the  New  to  be  afforded  frequent  and  emphatic 
attention.  Eve  in  the  garden  is  not  at  all  over¬ 
looked;  and  there  are  reviews  in  order  of  Sarah  in 
the  kitchen  and  Ruth  in  the  harvest  field  and 
Esther  on  the  throne  and  Dorcas  with  her  charity 
and  Lydia  behind  her  counter  or  at  prayer-meeting. 
Even  Jezebel  is  often  posed  for  strong  but  cruel 
picture,  and  for  companion  piece  there  is  use  of 


8 


Introduction 


Herodias,  savage  queen  for  later,  persecution  crisis. 
May  it  not  be  worth  while  equally,  or  more,  to 
consult  the  facts  about  Mary  the  mother  of  Jesus, 
and  use  them  to  promote  any  appreciation  of  her 
rich  character  and  function? 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


I 

Mary  and  Gabriel .  13 

II 

Mary  and  Elizabeth .  21 

III 

Mary  and  Joseph  .  31 

IV 

Mary  and  Jesus .  40 

V 

Mary  and  Jesus.  (Continued) .  49 


MARY  THE  MOTHER  OF  JESUS 


f 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 

i 

Mary  and  Gabriel 

'T'HE  earliest  mention  of  Mary  is  found  in  Luke. 

Attention  is  called  to  a  village  among  the 
heights  of  Galilee,  obscure  at  the  time  and  dis¬ 
reputable  as  it  was  known,  but  unique  evermore 
as  Nazareth.  And  among  its  homes  was  one  less 
marked,  perhaps,  than  many  others  but  proven  an 
unmistakable  center  of  innocence  and  comfort  and 
joy.  Whoever  besides  it  sheltered,  only  a  single 
member  of  the  family  has  become  known,  a  maiden 
with  an  inheritance  to  link  her  to  the  house  of 
David  but  with  a  lot  little  to  advertise  her  royalty. 
As  was  common  with  a  people  retaining  the  memory 
and  song  of  Miriam  her  name  was  Mary.  She 
had  her  birthright  in  the  kingdom  of  God,  and 
from  childhood,  witness  to  the  precious  covenant, 
she  honored  the  practice  of  every  devout  Israelite 
and  seized  some  interval  with  morning,  noon  or 
night  to  hold  meditative  and  prayerful  communion 
apart  with  God. 

The  reach  and  burden  of  her  petitions  are  left 
only  to  imagination,  but  with  easy  understanding 
she  is  heard  committing  her  ways  to  the  covenant¬ 
making  and  covenant-keeping  Jehovah,  pleading  the 
promises  first  made  to  the  fathers  in  the  distant 
centuries  and  reaffirmed  to  the  intermediate  gen- 

13 


14 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


erations,  pleading  that  the  Deliverer  come  and  come 
quickly,  Shiloh  of  patriarchal  prophecy,  that  the 
Star  out  of  Jacob  arise  without  delay,  that  the  rod 
out  of  the  stem  of  Jesse  spring  up  speedily,  plead¬ 
ing  that  the  nation  be  washed  in  the  Fountain  to  be 
opened  in  Israel  for  all  sin  and  uncleanness,  plead¬ 
ing  most  that  whatever  her  appointment  with  the 
glorious  day  of  the  Lord,  whatever  the  strain  of 
toil  or  blood  of  sacrifice,  she  be  found  faithful.  If 
only  the  rule  of  the  Messiah  would  begin  and 
work  its  sure  and  splendid  transformation  on  earth, 
what  sword  would  she  not  consent  to  have  pierce 
her  very  heart?  The  maiden  alone  in  her  chamber 
was  offering  her  life  without  reserve  to  God. 

And  suddenly  to  her  surprised  or  eager  sense 
there  was  the  approach,  the  appearance,  of  an  angel 
from  heaven.  Gabriel  hovered  within  her  room, 
Gabriel  of  superior  worth  to  stand  before  God  or 
speed  on  urgent  errands  to  man  or  maiden,  sent  to 
Daniel  long  before  or  of  late  to  Zacharias  at  the 
temple  altar,  the  Gabriel  under  appointment  to 
sound  a  mighty  trumpet  at  the  last  and  call  the  dead 
to  life  and  the  universe  to  judgment,  active 
throughout  with  the  most  tremendous  crises  of  God’s 
rule  between  the  beginning  and  the  end ;  and 
Gabriel  was  come  to  Mary  in  the  secret  place  of 
prayer. 

His  salutation  was  startling.  It  began  with  the 
familiar  oriental  form,  “Hail” !  but  it  passed  at 
once  to  strange  announcement:  “Thou  art  highly 
favored :  the  Lord  is  with  thee”.  “Highly  fav¬ 
ored”!  How?  What  rare  allotment  was  Mary’s 


Mary  and  Gabriel 


15 


portion?  It  was  surprising  enough  that  some  daz¬ 
zling  creature  should  invade  the  privacy  of  her 
inner  apartment,  but  her  sense  was  seized,  not  with 
his  heavenly  appearance,  but  with  his  mysterious 
message.  There  was  the  glad  tone  of  the  greeting, 
but  within  lurked  strange  meaning;  and  Mary, 
listening,  questioning,  within  her  own  mind,  with 
all  the  major  key  catching  an  undertone  of  minor, 
at  least  tense  with  the  concern  of  weighty  com¬ 
mission,  was  sore  troubled. 

In  her  perplexity,  wondering  for  her  part,  she 
could  only  wait  and  give  attention.  The  angel 
was  not  done.  He  had  but  prepared  the  way  for 
his  vital  word.  He  was  bent  on  pointed  purpose, 
and  he  would  surely  make  it  known.  It  was  not 
for  Mary  to  speak.  Was  her  heart  stilled  with 
the  strain  of  suspense?  And  as  she  heard  at  length, 
she  was  given  fond  assurance:  “Fear  not,  Mary, 
for  thou  hast  found  favor  with  God”.  Was  it  not 
enough  to  have  her  name  voiced  with  the  tones  of 
heaven  and  to  learn  that  she  had  won  the  gracious 
favor  of  God?  Could  there  be  any  better  boon? 
All  the  more  she  was  ready  for  instant,  hardy, 
sacrificial  service. 

The  pause,  if  any,  was  brief.  Mary  was  not 
left  long  to  dwell  with  her  thoughts;  and  as  she 
was  in  any  way  perplexed  she  was  given  added, 
distinct  word,  definitely  designed  to  dissolve  every 
doubt.  The  angel  message  was  at  last  delivered; 
“Behold,  thou  shalt  conceive  in  thy  womb  and 
bring  forth  a  Son  and  shalt  call  his  name  Jesus. 
He  shall  be  great,  and  he  shall  be  called  the  Son 


i6 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


of  the  most  High,  and  the  Lord  shall  give  unto 
him  the  throne  of  his  father  David,  and  he  shall 
reign  over  the  house  of  David  forever;  and  of  his 
kingdom  there  shall  be  no  end”. 

The  announcement  was  amazing:  of  a  son!  a 
son  to  receive  a  matchless  name  and  to  justify 
it  with  a  matchless  character  and  mission!  not  the 
son  of  a  woman  only,  but  equally  the  Son  of  God ! 
heir  to  Israel’s  throne  but  ruler  of  more,  even  of 
the  whole  earth !  The  dream  of  Messiah,  promised 
with  Adam  and  promised  again  with  every  supreme 
master  and  crisis  of  human  history,  was  about  to 
be  realized.  And  Mary  was  to  give  him  birth! 
Gabriel  told  the  maiden,  and  he  was  sent  from 
God! 

How  could  these  things  be?  Mary  wondered. 
She  did  not  doubt  God’s  intention  and  her  own 
mission,  but  she  sought  some  explanation.  With 
her  pure  life,  with  her  clear  consciences  she  was 
confronted  with  a  mystery.  Was  she  anything  but 
a  virgin?  And  she  was  to  bring  forth  a  son! 
“How  shall  this  be”?  And  she  learned.  The 
angel  told  her,  using  language  marvellously  deli¬ 
cate  but  unmistakably  distinct:  “The  Holy  Spirit 
shall  come  upon  thee,  and  the  power  of  the  Most 
High  shall  overshadow  thee:  wherefore  also  the 
holy  thing  which  is  begotten  shall  be  called  the 
Son  of  God.” 

The  message  is  plain  assurance  of  supernatural 
intervention  to  bring  about  the  motherhood  of 
Mary.  There  was  to  be  a  new,  original  creation. 
As  at  the  beginning  the  Spirit  of  God  moved  upon 


Mary  and  Gabriel 


17 


the  face  of  the  waters  and  brought  dark,  barren 
earth  into  light  and  life,  so  he  brooded  again,  in¬ 
terrupting  the  series  of  natural  generations,  and 
provided  once  more  the  quality  of  spotless  inno¬ 
cence  and  genuine  worth.  There  is  no  mistaking 
the  authoritative  announcement.  The  first  man 
was  a  failure,  an  offence,  but  there  was  to  be  a 
second,  and  more  than  the  early  Adam  Jesus  was 
to  be  manifest  the  Son  of  God. 

To  fortify  Mary  in  her  faith  and  function 
Gabriel  added  a  sign:  “Behold,  Elizabeth  thy  kins¬ 
woman,  she  also  hath  conceived  a  son  in  her  old 
age,  and  this  is  the  sixth  month  with  her  that  was 
called  barren.  For  no  word  from  God  shall  be 
void  of  power”.  And  Mary  was  assured.  She 
had  been  appointed  an  intimate  part  in  the  pro¬ 
vision  of  the  Gospel,  and  she  was  ready  for  any 
associated  duty  or  trial.  There  was  only  her 
voiced  consent  to  serve,  waiting  for  the  angel  in¬ 
terest,  and  it  was  given  without  delay  or  reserve: 
“Behold  the  handmaid  of  the  Lord ;  be  it  unto  me 
according  to  thy  word”. 

It  is  common  to  take  Mary’s  mood  for  exaltation, 
and  none  could  deny  her  the  sense  of  joy  with  ap¬ 
pointment  to  serve  as  the  mother  of  the  Messiah, 
but  it  would  be  mistaken  to  suppose  that  her  cup 
was  all  sweet,  that  she  caught  no  glimpse  of  a  cross. 
She  had  not  the  gift  of  foresight,  and  sharing  the 
current  notions  of  the  kingdom  at  hand,  she  could 
have  pictured  to  her  mind  nothing  of  the  sore 
processes  of  salvation,  but  she  could  only  have  felt 
something  of  the  difficulty  and  embarrassment  in- 


i8 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


evitable  to  her  immediate  part. 

Could  she  disarm  her  prying  neighbors  of  sus¬ 
picion  and  avoid  their  cruel  thrusts?  How  could 
she  escape  the  sneers  and  jibes  of  the  older 
women  assigned  with  prevalent  custom  to  watch 
her  during  the  period  of  her  betrothal?  And,  most 
of  all,  there  was  treatment  to  await  her  at  the 
hands  of  Joseph.  She  would  be  struck  with  silence, 
controlled  by  her  maiden  mood,  or  if  she  could 
find  speech,  how  could  she  justify  her  way  and 
God’s  to  the  devout  Israelite  and  even  encourage 
their  marriage?  And  to  surprise  and  grieve  his  tender 
heart!  She  could  keep  her  own  conscience  clear, 
but  how  could  she  assure  others  of  her  innocence 
and  spare  them  pain?  The  cup  put  to  her  lips 
was  any  thing  but  sweet  throughout.  Mary  proved 
the  length  and  breadth  and  height  and  depth  of 
self-renunciation.  There  was  no  easy  path  for  her 
to  follow.  She  was  bound  to  find  it  narrow  and 
rough  and  steep,  but  she  did  not  shrink  from  the 
way.  It  was  marked  out  for  her  feet  by  the  finger 
of  God,  and  she  would  trace  it  to  the  glad  or 
grievous  end.  Her  consent  to  service  or  sacrifice 
as  the  will  of  Heaven  touched  no  horizon.  It  was 
born  of  the  spirit  of  utmost  martyrdom.  Her  sen¬ 
sitive  nature  might  move  her  to  shrink,  but  her 
devotion  to  duty  prompted  her  with  quiet  yet  de¬ 
termined  tone  to  say  from  her  heart:  “Behold,  the 
handmaid  of  the  Lord ;  be  it  unto  me  according  to 
thy  word”. 

Mary  was  the  last  to  claim  worship  from  any 
people.  She  but  counted  her  rank  among  the 


Mary  and  Gabriel 


19 


lowly.  Yet  who  else  of  all  women  was  better 
chosen  mother  of  the  Messiah?  By  nature  and 
culture  she  was  thoroughly  fitted  to  express  the 
virtues  of  her  kind.  The  superior  origin  of  the 
world’s  Savior  did  not  exempt  him  from  the  pro¬ 
priety  and  even  necessity  of  most  favorable  earthly, 
human  advantages.  It  was  only  wise  and  urgent 
that  his  home  should  be  freest  from  rude  or  harmful 
possibilities,  that  the  very  atmosphere  he  breathed 
on  the  way  to  his  Gospel  ministry  should  be  sat¬ 
urated  with  saintliness  and  prayer,  that  the  bosom 
to  nestle  his  brow  should  be  spotless,  and  the  hand 
to  guide  and  sustain  his  early  steps  should  be  both 
strong  and  gentle  with  the  grace  of  God.  And 
surely  with  the  glimpse  afforded  of  the  scene,  pre¬ 
senting  a  maiden  in  her  private  room  and  showing 
her  in  prolonged  meditation  and  prayer  and  mark¬ 
ing  her  surrender  to  all  holy  and  happy  and  even 
bitter  uses  of  Heaven,  discovery  is  made  of  one  well 
qualified  to  be  the  mother  of  the  Lord’s  Annointed. 

And  Mary  was  left  alone  again.  Gabriel  was 
gone,  his  errand  to  the  young  woman  accomplished. 
And  she  had  accepted  her  part,  whether  more  of  final 
distinction  or  present  wonder  and  pain — who  could 
tell  ?  One  thing  is  sure :  if  there  had  been  occasion 
or  relish  for  communion  with  God  before,  it  must 
have  taken  much  wider  bounds  with  the  marvellous 
word  and  appointment  from  God.  The  chamber 
she  was  quick  to  enter  she  was  slow  to  leave,  and 
she  is  observed  to  linger  long,  pondering  the  ap¬ 
pearance  and  message  of  the  angel  and  seeking 
grace  to  be  humble  with  her  lofty  mission  and  to 


20 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


be  faithful  with  all  the  tax  laid  on  her  strength 
and  courage. 

The  hope  of  the  race  still  centers  largely  under 
God  upon  maiden,  mother,  and  appointments 
to  be  Mary’s  in  turn  fall  to  women  generally.  The 
innocence,  the  faith,  the  self-surrender,  marking  the 
Hebrew  girl  in  her  chamber  before  God  and  his 
angel,  are  rightfully  universal  feminine  traits. 
Heaven’s  assignments  ever  wait  on  fit  subjects. 
And  men  are  not  indifferent  observers.  They  have 
a  preference  for  godly  women,  and  they  count  any 
worthy  specimen  a  sort  of  substitute  angel.  Crises 
of  duty  or  privilege  await  all  heedless  of  sex.  How 
better  meet  them  than  with  the  spirit  of  Mary,  the 
mother  of  Jesus?  saying:  “Behold  the  servant  of 
the  Lord:  be  it  unto  me  according  to  thy  word”. 


II 


Mary  and  Elizabeth 


HE  interest  of  a  sign  prompted  Mary  to  journey 


to  the  south.  She  learned  from  the  angel  thal 
another  miraculous  birth  was  preparing  with  a 
kinswoman,  and  she  would  see  and  consult  the 
aged  Elizabeth.  It  has  been  suggested  that  ere 
she  started  she  confided  in  Joseph,  her  betrothed 
husband,  telling  him  of  Gabriel’s  visit  and  message 
and  of  her  mission  to  the  hill  country  of  Judea, 
telling  him  as  was  his  possible  right  to  know,  but 
the  understanding  is  entirely  foreign  to  the  narra¬ 
tive.  Was  there  none  in  her  own  family  to  entrust 
with  the  holy  secret?  Was  she  motherless,  or¬ 
phaned?  Was  there  no  neighbor  intimate,  sym¬ 
pathetic,  enough  to  share  with  and  to  return  counsel 
with  comfort  or  congratulation?  But  for  the 
crisis  of  her  fear  or  hope  there  was  none  to  take 
the  part  with  her  of  Elizabeth.  The  family  tie 
was  easy  union,  but  it  was  truer,  stronger  and 
finer  for  a  mutual  mystery.  Elizabeth  was  unin¬ 
formed,  but  Mary  knew,  and  she  took  the  sign  as 
sufficient  appointment  for  a  conference. 

She  lingered  in  Nazareth  only  to  make  ready 
for  the  journey.  It  is  said  that  she  went  with 
haste,  but  it  is  meant,  not  that  she  hurried  by  the 
way,  but  that  she  lost  no  time  with  the  start.  Her 
point  of  arrival  is  uncertain.  The  indication  is 
indefinite.  The  home  she  sought  was  somewhere 


21 


22 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


within  the  range  or  circle  of  Judean  hills,  and  her 
itinerary  is  not  detailed.  It  was  doubtless  a  walk, 
taking  at  least  four  days,  and  surely  she  was  fur¬ 
nished  companionship  as  she  journeyed,  at  least  a 
caravan  of  pilgrims  to  Jerusalem. 

But  Mary  with  her  secret  must  have  walked 
wrapped  in  her  mood  alone.  She  could  not  share 
with  any  previous,  common  acquaintances.  She 
could  have  no  heart  to  indulge  the  pleasantries  of 
gay  and  noisy  throngs.  Her  wonted  bent  was 
meditation,  and  there  was  no  lack  of  fund  to  feed 
her  thoughts.  Salvation  was  preparing  for  Israel 
and  for  the  world,  and  she  was  to  prove  a  personal 
link  in  the  chain  of  royal  events!  A  very  burden 
of  mingled  desire  and  dread  weighed  her  down, 
and  she  would  find  relief  only  in  absorbing  com¬ 
munion  with  her  Heavenly  Father. 

Surely  she  paused  at  the  temple  in  Jerusalem  and 
received  grace  at  the  altar  of  Jehovah;  and  she 
could  not  fail  to  observe  scenes  already  hallowed 
with  the  life  of  the  nation  or  memorable  more  with 
prophecies  of  Messianic  ministries  to  come.  May 
she  not  have  marked  the  village  of  Bethany  as  she 
climbed  from  the  Jordan  valley  and  threaded  the 
eastern  slope  of  Olivet,  passing  the  home  after¬ 
wards  to  provide  shelter  for  the  wearied  and  perse¬ 
cuted  Nazarene?  May  she  not  have  lingered  at 
sunset  to  kneel  in  the  quiet  of  Gethsemane  and 
drink  any  cup  of  agony  waiting  for  her  lips?  or 
receive  any  help  for  her  hour  and  turn  to  her  task 
with  new  courage  and  cheer?  Southward  with 
the  morning  she  may  have  sighted  Golgotha  with 


m—m 


Mary  and  Elizabeth 


23 


its  ghastly  seed  of  skulls,  centering  darkest  tragedy 
yet  to  come.  Any  thing  lost  upon  Mary  or  sug¬ 
gested  to  her  informed  and  imaginative  nature  can 
not  be  confidently  attested.  At  least  her  errand 
drew  her  on,  Hebron  in  the  distance,  perhaps, 
wooing  her  steps,  but  the  clear  record  is  renewed 
at  her  meeting  with  Elizabeth. 

There  had  been  no  recent  communication  between 
the  women.  Till  the  angel  told  her,  Mary  knew 
nothing  of  the  miracle  already  wrought  in  the 
southern  home,  and  even  with  her  message  she  was 
not  given  to  understand  that  the  two  sons  to  be 
born  were  to  be  joined  as  herald  and  king.  In  her 
mind  the  birth  to  Elizabeth  was  but  supernatural 
assurance  that  the  promise  of  her  own  high  mission 
would  hold  good.  Her  errand  to  the  hill  country 
was  more  than  any  thing  else  to  learn  the  truth 
about  her  cousin.  There  was  a  sign  given  her, 
and  she  would  receive  its  full  benefit. 

She  lost  no  time  in  setting  out  from  Nazareth, 
and  she  lingered  least  along  the  way.  Did  she 
hesitate  at  the  last?  Did  she  pause  at  the  thres¬ 
hold  of  the  house  among  the  hills?  listening,  won¬ 
dering,  fearing  that  she  had  been  made  the  victim 
of  some  dream,  yet  hoping  that  she  would  find 
promised  reality?  Surely  her  faith  was  not  to  be 
discredited,  and  she  was  but  eager  and  quick  to 
certify  the  sign.  She  had  hurried  with  her  start, 
and  she  would  scarcely  delay  long  at  the  finish. 

The  meeting  of  the  women  was  dramatic.  There 
was  no  witness  to  check  the  current  of  their  emo¬ 
tion  or  speech.  Zacharias  had  been  stricken  deaf 


24 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


and  dumb  for  his  early  unbelief  and  was  appar¬ 
ently  gone  into  temporary  retirement,  shunning  all 
observation ;  and  Mary,  entering  without  knock 
or  call,  came  directly  upon  Elizabeth.  She  knew 
at  once.  The  angel  assurance  was  confirmed. 

The  interest  of  her  discovery  was  intense  and 
even  painful,  and  with  the  destiny  of  the  nation 
and  of  all  the  world  suspended  upon  her  immediate 
understanding,  how  could  the  emotional  nature  of 
the  woman  but  be  stirred  to  its  very  depths?  And 
yet  she  did  not  part  from  her  distinctive  reserve. 
Instead  of  any  tedious  and  extravagant  demonstra¬ 
tion  she  offered  at  once  only  the  brief,  sober  word 
of  oriental  salutation. 

Elizabeth  promptly  came  into  the  action.  She 
was  taken  unawares.  She  has  received  no  word 
of  Mary’s  visit  nor  appointment  to  lofty  uses,  but 
when  she  saw  and  heard  her  kinswoman  she  was  at 
no  loss.  Intuition  and  sensation  seized  her  and 
inspired  her  witness.  There  was  really  revelation 
with  her  as  clear  prompting.  She  was  filled  with 
the  Holy  Spirit,  pronouncing  benediction  upon 
Mary  and  offering  proof  of  Gospel  benefit.  Her 
own  lot  was  to  bear  a  son  as  forerunner  of  the 
Messiah,  and  it  was  worthy,  but  she  knew  nothing 
more.  She  was  to  serve  a  subordinate  part,  but 
she  had  been  left  only  to  wonder  for  her  superior. 
Had  she  thought  of  Mary?  At  least  she  knew 
now.  Her  recognition  of  the  woman  assigned  to 
the  majestic  function  was  instant  and  complete. 

Did  ever  two  other  women  with  such  holy,  mighty 
interests  in  their  keeping  come  face  to  face?  Mary 


Mary  and  Elizabeth 


25 


and  Elizabeth!  Upon  them  at  their  meeting  in 
the  hill  country  of  Judea  centered  the  preparation 
and  the  kingdom.  From  the  first  there  had  been 
promise  of  the  Seed  of  a  woman  to  bruise  the  ser¬ 
pent’s  head,  and  the  patience  of  the  centuries  was 
at  last  about  to  be  honored.  It  was  the  day  fore¬ 
seen  of  Abraham  to  make  him  glad.  The  Gospel 
of  the  glory  of  the  blessed  God  was  coming  close 
to  express  realization,  and  the  priceless  treasure  was 
being  stored  for  the  time  under  the  single  roof  with 
Mary  and  Elizabeth. 

With  her  benediction  upon  the  younger  woman 
the  older  confessed  personal  inferiority  in  the  rank 
of  heavenly  appointments.  She  felt  unworthy  to 
receive  the  mother  of  her  Lord,  and  with  her  wit¬ 
ness  she  was  but  exalting  Mary.  Nor  was  it 
recognition  of  the  maiden  merely  as  God’s  chosen 
to  bear  the  Savior  of  the  world.  Credit  was  due 
most  that  in  spite  of  the  mountain  difficulties  in 
realizing  the  angel  announcement  she  rested  abso¬ 
lutely  in  the  word  and  power  of  God.  Zacharias 
with  long  years  of  gracious  experience,  a  priest  to 
take  his  turn  at  the  temple  altar,  had  doubted  the 
promise  of  some  hard  thing,  and  Mary  in  view  of 
something  in  her  case  vastly  harder  was  equal  to 
prompt  and  thorough  faith.  Who  will  not  swell 
the  single  voice  of  praise,  addressing  the  handmaid 
of  the  Lord,  and  make  it  mighty  chorus  as  of  in¬ 
numerable  angels? 

With  the  silence  to  follow  Elizabeth’s  rhapsody 
Mary  broke  into  song.  Expression  with  her  had 
been  restrained  long  enough.  The  angel’s  word 


26 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


had  been  treated  to  some  long  interval  of  medita¬ 
tion  and  prayer  and  to  her  sensitive  nature  had 
furnished  its  meaning  more  and  more.  Appre¬ 
hension  grew  into  inspiration,  and  she  swept  away 
any  barrier  of  reserve.  She  had  seen  and  heard 
Elizabeth,  and  she  could  not  be  mistaken.  God 
was  greater  than  her  heart,  and  she  would  acknowl¬ 
edge  his  favor.  As  waters  from  the  hills  gather 
behind  any  obstruction  and  then  break  into  cataract 
and  whirlpool,  the  full  wealth  of  Mary’s  nature, 
the  accumulation  of  all  her  years  and  specially  of 
her  recent  and  lofty  days,  was  poured  out  as  a  very 
flood  of  praise. 

The  song,  for  one  main  feature,  is  intensely 
personal.  Mary  clearly  appreciated  her  particular 
part  in  the  program  of  the  Gospel.  As  a  mere, 
lowly  maiden  of  Nazareth  she  was  doomed  to  per¬ 
petual  obscurity,  but  she  was  led  to  see  a  path 
pointing  out  the  way  for  her  feet  and  conducting 
her  to  dizzy  heights.  By  the  unmerited  favor  of 
God  she  was  chosen  for  distinction  in  the  sight  of 
all  nations.  It  was  reason  enough  for  doxology. 
Her  soul  was  moved  to  magnify  the  Lord,  and  her 
spirit  to  rejoice  in  God  her  Savior. 

The  song  was  none  the  less  Jewish.  Mary  was 
still  standing  on  Old  Testament  ground.  The 
Sun  of  righteousness  with  healing  on  his  wings 
was  yet  below  the  eastern  horizon.  Both  women 
gave  expression  higher  than  they  knew.  With 
their  utterances  they  allowed  for  deepening  ap¬ 
preciation  along  the  Gospel  ages.  On  the  surface 
they  really  joined  fit  numbers  to  the  Hebrew 


Mary  and  Elizabeth 


27 


Psalter.  They  expressed  the  contents  of  current 
Messianic  hopes.  They  sounded  trumpets  with 
note  of  victory.  They  heralded  the  kingdom  of 
David. 

Material  is  furnished  for  anthems.  Any  sound 
of  a  dirge  with  sigh  or  sob  is  excluded.  Where 
is  there  hint  on  the  page  of  a  cross?  Does  not 
the  sense  announce  the  singers?  They  belong  to 
their  own  people  and  to  their  own  time.  They 
are  still  possessed  of  their  traditional  notions  and 
interpretations,  and  they  will  be  relieved  and  im¬ 
proved  only  with  tardy,  painful  processes.  Even 
the  apostles  were  slow  to  surrender  their  mistaken 
understandings.  And  was  it  to  be  expected  that 
any  two  women  should  succeed  in  escaping 
prejudice?  Could  their  inheritance  and  training 
do  less  than  color  their  expression? 

But  the  song  of  Mary  was  extensive.  It  took 
in  the  whole  world.  It  entertained  the  human 
element  as  really  as  the  national.  It  mentioned 
all  generations,  and  while  it  made  note  of  time 
with  the  word  it  really  recognized  the  race. 
Abraham’s  seed  was  nothing  tribal.  It  became  as 
universal  as  believers.  There  were  the  literal 
descendants  of  the  patriarch,  but  the  promise  of 
the  Covenant  was  eminently  to  his  children  in  the 
faith,  and  as  they  are  all  counted  they  are  more 
in  number  than  the  stars  of  heaven  or  the  sands 
upon  the  seashore.  And  Mary’s  song  surveyed 
the  multitude. 

It  rose  at  last  to  worship.  The  personal  inter¬ 
est,  the  national  and  the  universal  were  caught 


28 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


into  a  single  strain  and  born  upward  as  the  cele¬ 
bration  of  God’s  might  and  mercy,  of  his  justice 
and  help.  There  is  the  swell  of  inspired  praise. 
The  humble  Jewish  maid  is  transformed  or  oblit¬ 
erated  ;  Nazareth  is  remote  or  forgotten,  and  only 
some  stately  Miriam  is  heard,  voicing  anthem  on 
the  shore  of  the  sea  and  using  the  sound  waves  at 
her  feet  for  organ  accompaniment. 

A  single  insertion  is  made,  closing  the  page  of 
song  and  telling  that  Mary  abode  with  Elizabeth 
about  three  months  and  then  returned  to  Nazareth. 
The  interval  surely  was  packed  with  sacred,  precious 
concerns.  To  prompt  the  meeting  at  the  first,  cer¬ 
tainly,  was  the  encouragement  of  faith,  but  there 
was  attached  many  a  minor  intention.  Surely 
Mary  with  her  inexperience  and  with  her  mission 
craved  human,  appreciative,  sympathetic  compan¬ 
ionship  and  found  her  satisfaction  with  a  woman 
of  age  and  wisdom  and  piety  and  tenderness,  a 
woman  to  be  trusted  without  limit  and  offer 
motherly  bosom  for  holy,  happy,  careful  secrets, 
mingling  alarm  and  exultation,  bewilderment  and 
joy,  shrinking  and  hope;  and,  it  may  be,  Elizabeth 
needed  Mary,  too.  It  was  not  all  bright  and  easy 
for  the  older  woman.  Her  reproach  was  taken 
away,  but  her  cup  was  not  sweet  throughout.  All 
motherhood  is  some  approach  to  martyrdom ;  and 
would  not  fellowship  with  young,  glad  life  be  to 
the  heart  of  Elizabeth  as  to  her  brow  some  fresh, 
cool  breeze  from  the  heights? 

There  was  no  tedium  with  the  time.  To  occupy 
the  period  was  quiet,  genial,  comforting  or  inspir- 


Mary  and  Elizabeth 


29 


ing  talk.  Would  not  Elizabeth  repeat  the  story 
of  the  angel’s  appearance  and  message  to  Zacharias 
at  the  altar,  dwelling  upon  their  distinct  features 
and  interpreting  their  sense?  And  would  not 
Mary  recount  the  visit  of  the  same  bright  creature, 
welcomed  in  her  room  at  Nazareth,  and  reproduce 
the  scene  permanently  graven  with  ifond  touch 
upon  her  memory?  And  if  ever  the  faith  and  hope 
of  the  women  dulled,  and  in  the  light  of  daily, 
humble  interests  they  wondered  how  these  things 
could  be,  they  had  only  to  turn  and  see  the  old 
priest  sitting  apart,  silent,  speechless,  and  know 
that  any  marvellous  word  from  God  would  hold 
good. 

And  communion  in  prayer  was  observed,  prayer 
for  grace  to  be  strong  and  eager  for  the  appoint¬ 
ments  of  God,  for  any  burden  laid  upon  their 
lives,  to  be  humble  as  they  were  caught  up  to  the 
third  heaven  of  privilege  or  to  keep  true  wing  in 
their  flight.  And  sing?  What  Hebrew  is  want¬ 
ing  in  the  gift  and  use  of  song?  With  the  two 
there  surely  was  the  impulse.  The  psalms  of  David 
were  their  rich  inheritance,  and  fit  expression 
waited  on  frequent  line  to  fit  their  faith  or  fore¬ 
boding. 

The  truth  about  the  Messiah  and  his  herald 
would  not  occur  to  them  in  its  entirety,  but  it  was 
certainly  offered  them  with  large  dimension  and 
given  room.  As  the  Gospel  in  anticipation  at  all 
appealed  to  them,  it  would  encourage  an  interchange 
of  thoughts,  and  in  the  glow  of  prayer  and  con¬ 
verse  its  meanings  would  enlarge  upon  their  ap- 


30 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


preciation.  Was  it  not  enough  with  them  to  fore¬ 
cast  their  experience  and  with  the  light  in  the  east 
frame  something  of  the  two  lives  bound  up  myste¬ 
riously  with  their  own? 

Blessed  converse  of  good  women!  What  if  their 
plans  and  prayers  and  hopes  were  allowed  full 
realization  in  the  world?  Would  not  earth  be 
brought  nearer  heaven?  To  disappoint  them  is 
outright  proof  of  total  depravity.  They  are  en¬ 
titled  to  help  with  their  Gospel  program.  Surely 
the  impression  is  worth  while  of  the  scene  in  the 
village  home,  of  Elizabeth  with  her  ripe  saintliness 
and  at  her  feet  the  girlish  Mary  known  as  the 
handmaid  of  the  Lord  and  chosen  to  be  the  mother 
of  Jesus. 


Ill 


Mary  and  Joseph 

JV/J  ARY  with  the  angel  announcement  had  hur- 

A  ried  to  Elizabeth,  but  she  scarcely  could  have 
been  as  swift  to  return  home.  Under  the  roof  of 
the  chastened  priest  and  his  wife,  as  nowhere  else, 
her  glad  yet  serious  secret  was  understood,  and  her 
innocence  and  high  calling  recognized.  With  her 
intimate  friends  she  was  furnished  a  house  of 
refuge  and  was  given  full  encouragement  for  her 
part.  To  leave  her  saintly,  appreciative  cousin 
and  return  to  Nazareth  was  to  forsake  some  warm, 
cheerful  fireside  and  enter  the  atmosphere  of  a  cold, 
dark,  uncertain  night.  Her  stay  in  the  south  was 
evidently  about  three  months,  and  she  journeyed 
north  only  a  little  before  the  birth  of  John. 

What  could  she  but  expect  at  home?  Was 
there  any  thing  for  her  but  a  gloomy  prospect? 
The  treatment  she  could  only  anticipate  was  bound 
to  be  tinged  with  the  hue  of  dread.  She  might 
protest  her  innocence  and  rehearse  the  story  of  the 
angel’s  visit  and  message,  but  for  comment  she 
could  count  on  nothing  free  from  shrugs  and 
sneers.  She  would  be  strictly  shunned  by  her  pre¬ 
vious  friends.  Would  her  own  family  regard  her 
without  suspicion?  Would  the  door  be  shut 
in  her  face  and  barred  tight?  Or  as  she  would 
be  allowed  to  enter,  could  she  find  approval  and 
comfort  anywhere  but  in  her  angel-haunted  room? 

31 


32 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


The  darkest  prospect  must  have  centered  upon 
Joseph.  The  time  for  her  promised  marriage  with 
him  was  about  come,  and  she  had  nourished  all 
the  joy  incident  to  the  approaching  day.  Was  she 
not  maiden  enough  to  entwine  festal  wreaths  for 
her  bridal?  And  was  she  to  lay  them  aside  after 
all?  Were  they  to  be  torn  from  her  eager  brow? 
Were  they  to  be  mere  memorials  of  her  disappoint¬ 
ment  and  shame?  Were  they  to  serve  as  sad  tokens 
for  a  kind  of  funeral? 

How  could  her  simple  word  stand  against  the 
unavoidable  doubts  of  her  betrothed?  She  would 
tell  him  of  Gabriel’s  appearance  and  announcement 
in  her  chamber,  of  the  interest  laid  upon  her 
life  as  the  direct  appointment  of  God ;  of  the 
miraculous  interposition  to  effect  her  mother¬ 
hood  ;  but  would  she  be  able  to  win  his 
confidence?  She  might  humble  her  posture  in  his 
presence;  would  she  be  raised  to  his  side  or  spurned 
from  his  feet?  She  knew  him  for  a  righteous  man, 
and  she  could  count  on  him  for  no  compromise 
with  real  or  imagined  wrong.  She  was  sure  that 
his  affection  would  not  be  permitted  to  sway  his 
conscience.  What  if  she  could  not  retain  even  his 
respect?  His  disappointment  with  her  would  prove 
harshest  experience  of  all.  Separation  would  be 
bad  enough,  but  alienation  would  be  far  worse. 

Only  Mary’s  marvelous  faith  could  have  proved 
sufficient  for  her  in  the  crisis  with  Joseph,  faith  to 
assure  her  that  the  same  hand  of  God  to  lay  the 
burden  would  hold  her  up,  that  the  ministering 
angel  would  serve  anew  and  prepare  the  heart  of 


Mary  and  Joseph 


33 


trv"1 


her  betrothed  alike  with  her  own.  Surely  she 
would  be  given  to  see  her  way  step  by  step,  and 
through  any  dark  valley  or  over  any  ragged  rocks 
she  would  be  brought  into  light  and  peace.  Dread 
with  the  immediate  prospect  and  hope  beyond  were 
intermingled  on  her  map,  and  as  with  clouds  under 
a  fair  sky  of  June  they  marked  the  landscape  with 
alternate  sunshine  and  shadow. 

What  pauses  Mary  put  in  on  her  way  home, 
delaying  disagreeable  developments,  or  what  readi¬ 
ness  to  be  over  with  the  worst  escapes  all  written 
mention.  Even  her  arrival  is  treated  to  scant 
notice.  Her  family  and  mere  acquaintances  are 
overlooked  entirely,  and  concern  is  confined  strictly 
to  her  experience  at  the  hands  of  Joseph.  Who 
else  was  vitally  connected  with  the  sacred  interest? 

The  period  of  betrothal  was  come  to  a  close. 
It  was  time  for  the  marriage.  Mary,  it  is  safe  to 
suppose,  had  from  the  first  been  silent.  Reticence 
was  her  distinctive  trait,  and  certainly  with  any 
sacred,  delicate  subject  involved  it  kept  thorough 
rule  of  her  speech.  For  any  disclosure  she  could 
but  await  God’s  time  and  method.  Faith  with  her 
was  expressed  with  the  quality  of  reserve,  and 
before  the  marriage  she  was  simply  found  with 
child  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

Events  had  been  allowed  to  take  their  inde¬ 
pendent  course,  but  at  last  there  was  personal 
action.  There  was  the  discovery  alike  embar¬ 
rassing,  painful,  to  Mary  and  Joseph.  Charge  of 
wrong  or  protest  of  innocence  was  neither  given 
nor  taken.  But  things  could  not  go  on  as  planned. 


34 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


Sentiment  could  not  displace  rectitude.  Joseph 
was  profoundly  religious,  and  with  him  devotion 
to  Mary  could  not  supplant  regard  for  God.  But 
if  the  law  must  have  its  way  with  him,  he  would 
make  sure  of  giving  it  mildest  interpretation. 

Betrothal  with  the  Hebrews  was  something  strict. 
Even  before  they  came  together  Joseph  in  the 
Gospel  record  was  spoken  of  as  husband,  and  Mary 
as  wife.  The  Levitical  law  made  no  essential  dis¬ 
tinction  between  marital  promise  and  realization, 
providing  the  same  judgment  for  infidelity  before 
as  after.  And  Mary  as  only  the  espoused  wife  of 
Joseph,  found  with  child,  was  liable  to  the  extreme 
penalty  of  death  by  stoning. 

But  there  was  different  course  of  procedure 
offered  as  alternative,  a  method  more  humane.  It 
came  into  later  practice  with  the  Jews  and  corre¬ 
sponded  to  something  like  modern  divorce.  The 
man  could  appear  before  a  magistrate,  put  in  ac¬ 
cusation,  supporting  it  with  competent  witnesses, 
and  count  on  release  from  any  marriage  covenant. 
But  Joseph  did  not  have  the  heart  to  proceed 
openly  against  Mary.  He  was  unwilling  to  make 
her  a  public  example.  Instead,  he  undertook  to 
give  her  a  writ  of  divorcement  and  screen  her  from 
all  official  or  general  exposure.  He  was  minded 
to  put  her  away  privily,  effecting  a  kind  of  legal 
separation. 

Was  Mary  consulted?  Was  her  consent  se¬ 
cured  ?  Surely  she  was  at  least  submissive. 
Silence  was  still  her  nature  and  policy.  Clearly 
she  offered  no  defence.  Who  would  believe  her 


Mary  and  Joseph 


35 


story  of  an  angel  and  his  message?  None  but 
Elizabeth  and  Zacharias,  subjects  for  like  visita¬ 
tion.  And  Joseph  went  on  with  his  brooding, 
balancing  his  conscience  with  mercy  for  Mary  and 
at  last  reaching  firm  conclusion.  Marriage  was 
impossible.  There  could  only  be  quiet  separation. 

All  left  to  Joseph  was  to  take  the  step.  The 
interval  between  his  discovery  and  his  decision,  or  be¬ 
tween  his  decision  and  the  date  for  final  action, 
covered  many  an  hour  of  disquietude,  of  worry, 
each  to  pass  into  long,  wakeful  night.  How  could 
he  sleep  with  an  uncertain  or  painful  duty  pressing 
upon  his  heart?  He  could  only  toss  from  side  to 
side  or  stare  into  the  darkness  in  his  search  for  the 
right  and  best  way  to  follow,  but  with  conviction 
or  conclusion  at  last  he  could  realize  the  rest  of  a 
stable  mind.  The  victory  was  won  at  midnight, 
it  may  be;  and  following  the  tumult  there  came 
the  hush  of  sleep. 

But  it  was  not  all  sleep.  Sleep  proved  avenue  to 
a  dream.  Joseph  was  not  left  to  his  own  doubtful 
device.  He  was  kept  from  any  wrong.  The  resolu¬ 
tion  he  had  reached  to  put  away  Mary  was  reversed. 
An  angel  of  the  Lord  was  sent  with  pointed  instruc¬ 
tions.  Any  name  is  omitted,  but  who  was  active 
throughout  the  epoch  unless  Gabriel?  After  his 
service  for  Zacharias  and  Mary  would  he  not  visit 
Joseph  to  complete  the  circle  of  heavenly  appoint¬ 
ments  ? 

With  his  message  he  told  the  truth  concerning 
Mary  and  claimed  protection  for  her  in  marriage. 
The  word  assured  her  innocence  and  explained  her 


36 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


motherhood,  telling  the  sufficient  power  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  in  her  case.  It  quoted  prophecy  and  asserted 
fulfillment,  all  associating  the  Messiah  unmistak¬ 
ably  and  announcing  Gospel  salvation;  and  it  en¬ 
couraged  Joseph  without  fear  to  take  Mary  to 
wife. 

Did  Joseph  merit  and  receive  reproof?  If  ever 
he  had  entertained  doubt  of  Mary  in  his  mind,  did 
he  feel  no  sting  of  remorse  to  vex  his  waking 
thoughts?  He  had  at  least  been  kept  back  from 
appalling  precipice.  He  had  been  about  to  cast  off 
as  unfaithful  the  very  mother  of  the  Messiah! 
Remonstrance  to  escape  his  suspicion  she  had  offered 
none.  At  least  in  her  silence  he  ought  to  have 
discovered  proof  of  her  spotless  innocence.  With 
any  guilt,  he  might  have  known,  she  would  have 
put  in  loud  defence.  Surely  he  was  thankful  for 
the  angel’s  word.  It  set  him  right.  It  stayed  him 
from  rank  injustice  to  Mary  and  prompted  him  to 
instant,  urgent  action.  He  arose  the  morning 
after  his  dream  and  made  shelter  for  her  as  his 
lawful,  wedded  wife  before  the  world. 

Joseph  is  entitled  to  some  attention  on  his  own 
personal  merit.  Mary  for  the  time  was  passive, 
and  to  her  betrothed  or  married  husband  fell  the 
part  of  initiative  action.  Even  with  smallest  imple¬ 
ment  of  measure  his  service  in  the  Gospel  shows 
massive.  He  was  a  good  man,  well  qualified  for 
his  mission  whether  as  husband  of  Mary  or  reputed 
and  practical  father  of  the  Messiah.  He  was  in  a 
hard  position,  but  he  behaved  with  tact  and 
strength  and  dignity.  He  was  inseparable  from 


Mary  and  Joseph 


37 


the  incidents  reported  of  the  family,  and  he  earned 
approval  throughout. 

It  was  beautifully  considerate  of  him  not  to  leave 
Mary  without  protection  from  prying  or  perse¬ 
cuting  neighbors  but  to  take  her  along  with  his 
unavoidable  journey  to  Bethlehem.  And  he  was 
close  with  the  birth  of  the  child.  The  shepherds, 
coming  from  their  watch  in  the  open  night  and 
thrilling  with  the  sight  and  song  and  witness  of 
the  angel  host,  found  Mary  and  Joseph  and  the 
babe,  all  one  intimate  group.  The  three  were 
together  at  the  presentation  in  the  temple.  And 
the  man  marvelled  with  the  mother  at  the  things 
said  by  Simeon  of  the  child  and  received  with  the 
family  the  benediction  of  the  hoary  saint.  He  was 
thoroughly  heedful  of  every  angel-borne  word.  He 
moved  promptly  at  the  warning  of  danger  for  the 
safety  of  his  precious  charge;  for  escape  from  the 
jealous,  cruel  hand  of  Herod  found  refuge  in 
Egypt*  and  as  the  way  was  again  clear  built  anew 
the  home  in  Nazareth,  turning  aside  from  residence 
in  insecure  Bethlehem.  And  did  he  not  share  the 
anxiety  and  search  for  the  lost  boy  of  twelve  at  the 
Passover  ? 

Later  there  is  nothing  more  definite  than  hints. 
It  appears  that  Joseph  and  Jesus  through  all  their 
mature  association  were  sympathetic  and  co-oper¬ 
ative.  They  shared  with  each  other  the  interests 
of  family  life  and  support.  They  worked  at  the 
same  bench,  on  the  same  job,  and  handled  the  same 
tools.  And  surely  there  were  intervals  of  pause. 
The  craftsman,  teaching  the  apprentice,  illustrating, 


38 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


directing,  and  both  learning  lessons  worthier  than 
any  skill  with  steel  or  wood,  claimed  and  found  an 
intimacy  true  and  fine  and  sweet  with  the  quality 
of  heaven.  Life  developed,  and  there  came  recog¬ 
nition  of  the  carpenter’s  son  and,  at  last,  of  the 
mature  and  independent  carpenter. 

Joseph  drops  out  of  view  early.  There  is  no 
mention  of  him  as  alive  with  the  acts  of  Jesus  before 
the  world.  Instead,  is  the  appeal  of  Mary  as  a 
widow,  alone  of  her  family  at  the  cross  and  com¬ 
mitted  to  the  care  of  John.  Tradition  and  art 
make  her  younger  far  than  her  husband.  The 
discovery  of  other  children  in  the  household  has 
started  the  opinion  that  they  were  children  of 
Joseph  by  a  former  marriage,  but  facts  are  not 
turned  with  the  sway  of  mere  prejudice.  Nothing 
is  known  conclusively  of  Joseph’s  age,  nor  is  there 
good  reason  to  understand  that  he  made  Mary  his 
second  wife.  The  comprehensive  items  are  spread 
upon  the  Gospel  page,  and  they  require  little  sup¬ 
plement.  It  is  enough  really  that  they  credit  the 
man  as  worthy  both  of  Mary  and  of  her  exceptional 
son. 

Mary  was  given  greater  appointment  in  the 
Gospel  provision,  God  choosing  her  out  of  all 
womanhood  to  be  the  mother  of  the  Messiah;  yet 
it  is  not  to  be  overlooked  that  but  for  Joseph  to 
smooth  her  path  and  ease  her  burden  the  mission 
to  which  she  was  called  would  have  proved  vastly 
more  difficult  and  disagreeable  whether  in  her  own 
separate  lot  or  in  her  nurture  of  God’s  unspeakable 
gift  to  the  world.  To  her  he  was  as  a  refuge  from 


Mary  and  Joseph 


39 


the  storm,  a  shadow  from  the  heat,  a  tower  of 
strength,  and  with  all  the  majestic,  hallowed 
memorial  raised  in  her  honor  letters  to  carry  his 
name,  reduced  or  indistinct  as  they  may  be,  should 
be  inscribed  with  hers. 

The  marriage  of  Mary  and  Joseph  departed  plainly 
from  Hebrew  custom.  It  was  different,  no  doubt, 
from  their  original  plans.  It  was  little  announced, 
and  it  was  scarcely  noticed  outside  the  village,  if 
at  all  within.  There  was  no  pomp  of  ceremony, 
no  elaborate  decoration,  no  long  nor  lavish  festival. 
Some  of  the  usual  formalities  were  altogether 
omitted.  With  least  required  or  optional  observ¬ 
ance  Joseph  simply  took  Mary  unto  him  as  his 
wife.  The  man  sheltered  the  women  with  his 
home  and  proved  it  the  gate  of  heaven. 


IV 


Mary  and  Jesus 

FESUS  of  Nazareth  is  incomparable.  Once  he 
J  appears,  all  other  characters  with  honest  sight 
lose  something  of  their  interest  and  value. 
It  is  easy  enough  to  make  Mary  central  to  the 
scenes  that  introduce  her  only  with  Gabriel  or 
Elizabeth  or  Joseph,  but  as  Christ  is  born  and 
started  upon  his  public  ministry  his  mother  is 
treated  to  small  notice  in  the  Gospel  narrative; 
and  the  literary  problem  develops  of  putting  her 
into  prominence  in  place  of  her  supreme  son.  How 
may  a  planet  like  Mercury  be  viewed  within  the 
blaze  of  solar  light? 

But  Mary  is  not  to  be  overlooked,  and  after 
any  survey  of  previous  events,  her  appointment  by 
the  angel,  her  communion  with  Elizabeth  and  her 
marriage  to  Joseph,  the  way  is  clear  at  last  to  pause 
with  occurrences  connecting  her  distinctively  with 
Jesus. 

Attention  fastens  at  once  upon  the  nativity  and 
deals  with  the  introductory  item  of  location.  The 
family  home  was  in  Nazareth,  but  Christ  was  born 
in  Bethlehem.  Providence  was  presiding  to  de¬ 
termine  all  the  linked  events.  The  Messiah  was 
to  be  known  as  the  Son  of  David,  and  it  was  ap¬ 
propriate  alike  to  pedigree  and  prophecy  that  his 
birth  should  take  place  within  the  region  forever 
associated  with  the  name  and  shepherd  life  of  his 

40 


41 


■  ■-.li  . ■  -  ■!  . . . 

Mary  and  Jesus 


remote  and  royal  ancestor. 

The  arrangement  was  effected  by  an  imperial 
decree.  It  was  the  will  of  Augustus  Ceasar  that 
all  the  Roman  world  should  be  taxed,  and  the 
order  took  every  citizen  in  Palestine  to  his  original 
residence  for  enrolment.  Joseph  belonged  to 
Bethlehem,  and  as  his  name  was  inscribed  on  the 
registers  of  the  southern  village  he  had  to  make 
the  journey  for  recognition  and  census.  But  only 
the  head  of  each  household  was  required  to  put  in 
appearance,  answering  the  royal  summons,  and  yet 
Joseph  took  Mary  along.  Is  not  the  discovery 
proof  of  his  fine  thoughtfulness?  He  would  not 
leave  her  behind  to  encounter  possible  persecutions 
alone,  and  he  would  secure  her  the  comfort  of  his 
constant  companionship  and  share  with  her  for  any 
approaching  crisis  in  her  experience. 

The  journey  is  left  without  description,  but 
speedy  developments  at  the  close  were  given  some 
detailed  account.  The  caravansary  where  Joseph 
and  Mary  claimed  lodging  was  found  full.  There 
was  no  room  for  them  at  least  in  the  surrounding 
compartments,  and  the  woman  in  her  pangs  could 
only  lie  down  in  the  open  area  and  find  relief  with 
the  birth  of  her  child  and  for  want  of  other  fit 
hands  with  her  own  wrap  him  in  swaddling  clothes 
and  lay  him  in  some  convenient  stable  trough  or 
manger. 

The  circumstances  appeal  with  the  force  of 
utmost  pathos,  but  there  is  welcome  contrast  with 
the  discovery  of  inward  values.  Walls  wide 
enough  for  a  palace  and  gorgeous  with  painting  or 


42 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


crystal  or  tapestry  and  supplied  with  richest  up¬ 
holstery,  all  at  their  best,  would  have  proved  dull, 
meager  setting  for  the  Eternal  Word  of  God  made 
flesh.  Any  human  birth  is  occasion  sufficient  to 
excite  unbounded  wonder.  The  mystery  of  life 
from  heavenly  sources  to  earthly  issues  attaches 
thrilling  amazement,  proving  that  a  child  is  born 
into  the  world,  but  when  God  becomes  incarnate, 
when  the  only  begotten,  well  beloved  Son  in  the 
divine  Trinity  was  revealed  as  the  son  of  Mary, 
surely  it  was  enough  to  bring  angels  from  the  skies 
for  witnesses  or  wise  men  from  the  distant,  storied 
east. 

The  Desire  of  all  nations  was  at  last  come.  The 
heavenly  origin,  the  earthly  appointment,  the  humble 
lot,  the  harsh  privation,  the  cruel  toil,  the  final 
sacrifice  and  the  resurrection  beyond,  all  as  incidents 
of  Christ’s  errand  to  the  world,  were  bound  up  at 
least  tentatively  in  the  tiny  form  bundled  and 
cradled  in  the  corral  of  Bethlehem.  Glory  was 
vested  in  life,  and  it  was  superior  to  circumstances. 
Perhaps  unadorned  nature  after  all  was  fittest  set¬ 
ting  for  the  birth  of  Christ.  There  was  the  in¬ 
terest  of  worthy  creatures  from  lowly  cattle  to 
exalted  stars,  and  it  was  best. 

Mary’s  part  became  at  once  subordinate.  The 
child  was  put  to  displace  the  mother.  Her  treat¬ 
ment  by  the  evangelists  was  no  longer  descriptive. 
It  was  more  suggestive.  The  angel  of  the  Lord, 
appearing  and  speaking  to  the  shepherds  in  their 
lonely  night  watch,  announced  not  the  motherhood 
of  Mary,  but  the  birth  of  Christ,  and  the  story 


Mary  and  Jesus 


43 


the  witnesses  gave  out  of  what  they  had  seen  and 
heard  was  concerned  strictly  with  the  babe.  The 
mother  was  only  a  watcher,  a  listener,  in  turn. 
She  was  silent  in  the  midst  of  the  scenes  and  say¬ 
ings,  and  she  was  unobserved  except  for  her  min¬ 
istries  to  the  child,  but  she  was  far  from  impassive. 
Not  a  look  was  lost  upon  her  attention,  not  a  word 
did  she  fail  to  catch  and  keep.  All  was  fund  for 
her  to  cherish  through  the  years,  to  pray  over  and 
ponder  in  her  heart. 

Surely  there  was  lavish  material  for  meditation. 
Marvels  were  happening  in  bewildering  number 
and  variety,  and  meanings  with  Mary  took  time 
for  growth  and  clearness.  The  announcement  she 
heard  originally  from  the  angel  was  the  first  great 
thing  to  land  upon  her  life,  but  it  was  followed 
by  a  startling  series.  Only  her  faith  had  delivered 
her  from  the  temptation  to  count  her  entire  ex¬ 
perience  a  hazy  dream  or,  as  it  was  real,  to  shun  the 
path  of  duty.  And  every  word  had  come  out  true! 
Was  there  not  prompt  confirmation  with  the  birth 
of  John  in  the  hill  country  of  Judea.  And  her 
own  motherhood  was  final  demonstration.  The 
virgin  had  brought  forth  a  son.  He  lay,  an  im¬ 
mediate,  precious  gift  from  God,  on  her  bosom. 
What  was  to  prove  his  character?  she  wondered, 
his  calling?  Could  she  forget  her  greeting  from 
Elizabeth?  And  how  could  she  forget  the  inspira¬ 
tion  of  her  own  song  in  return?  And  the  shep¬ 
herds!  How  strange  it  was  that  they  should  see 
visions  and  hear  anthems  of  angels  and  move  at 
once  to  follow  the  indications  and  seek  her  child 


44 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


and  worship  at  his  feet!  Was  ever  first-born 
before  ushered  into  life  with  equal  wonders? 
What  fond  fancies  Mary  was  given  material  to 
weave  upon  the  brow  of  her  babe  more  than  mothers 
generally  are  inspired  to  gather  about  the  tiny 
creatures  of  their  own  flesh  and  blood! 

The  Mosaic  observances  were  still  in  force. 
The  veil  hung  thick  between  the  double  apartments 
of  the  temple  in  Jerusalem,  and  from  altar  and 
censor  came  the  smoke  and  perfume  of  daily  offer¬ 
ings.  It  was  an  ordered  and  splendid  ritual,  and 
Mary  was  little  excused  from  its  claims.  The 
circumcision  of  the  child  on  the  eighth  day  was  a 
private  ceremony,  leaving  the  mother  in  the  back¬ 
ground,  but  with  the  fortieth  day  she  was  brought 
into  public  and  prominent  action.  She  was  re¬ 
quired  to  observe  the  ritual  of  purification.  During 
the  long  interval,  as  the  law  prescribed,  she  was 
unclean  and  was  kept  aloof  from  sacred  associa¬ 
tions.  At  the  close  of  the  period  she  was  to  appear 
at  the  temple,  give  thanks  for  her  deliverance  and 
offer  sacrifice  for  her  release  from  her  ceremonial 
defilement ;  and  it  must  have  been  with  a  glad  heart 
that  she  took  her  place  with  a  group  of  her  kind  at 
early  morning  to  pay  her  vows  and  claim  anew  the 
loving  recognition  of  God. 

And  she  was  ready  with  her  sacrifice  for  cleans¬ 
ing.  The  law  specified  a  lamb  for  a  burnt  offering 
and  a  young  pigeon  or  a  turtle  dove  for  a  sin- 
offering,  but  in  case  of  poverty  birds  of  either  kind 
were  accepted,  one  for  each  interest.  Was  Mary 
poor,  then,  that  she  should  fail  to  provide  the  richer 


Mary  and  Jesus 


45 


sacrifice?  Perhaps;  yet  the  inference  is  unneces¬ 
sary.  It  is  said  that  the  sale  of  pigeons  and  doves 
at  the  time  was  in  the  hands  of  a  monopoly,  and 
purchase  was  possible  only  at  an  exorbitant  price, 
an  abuse  to  receive  strong  protest  from  Christ  with 
his  manhood’s  ministry. 

But  the  purification  of  the  mother  was  not  the 
only  interest  at  the  temple.  There  was  another 
with  the  presentation  and  redemption  of  the  child. 
It  was  written  that  the  firstborn  in  every  house¬ 
hold  belonged  exclusively  to  God  and  was  to  be 
set  apart  strictly,  eminently,  to  holy  service.  The 
earlier  saints  were  held  honestly  to  the  claim,  but 
with  Moses  there  was  modification.  The  Levites 
were  appointed  substitutes,  serving  in  sacred  office 
for  the  rest.  The  substitution  was  really  a  pur¬ 
chase,  the  amount  fixed  at  five  shekels  or  about  three 
dollars.  There  was  the  form  of  a  ransom,  and  as 
its  terms  were  met  by  Mary  and  Joseph  it  com¬ 
pleted  the  ritual  required  with  the  birth  of  Jesus. 

But  interest  centers  not  so  much  upon  routine 
ceremonials  as  upon  associated  surprises.  While 
the  observances  were  in  progress  at  the  temple  a  man 
named  Simeon  hovered  near  and  at  last  broke  in 
with  words  and  acts  of  recognition.  He  was 
worthy  saint,  specimen  of  true  Israel,  looking  for 
the  consolation  and  cherishing  the  inspiration  of 
God,  and  it  was  his  part  with  any  others  to  bear 
witness  to  the  messiahship  of  the  infant  Jesus. 
Had  it  not  been  revealed  to  him  that  ere  he  died  he 
would  see  the  Lord’s  Christ?  It  was  a  beautiful 
incident,  and  Mary  must  have  looked  in  happy 


46 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


surprise  as  the  hoary  Israelite  took  her  babe  in  his 
arms  and  with  expression  of  deepest  joy  over  what 
his  eyes  were  permitted  to  see  prayed  that  he  might 
now  depart  in  peace. 

But  Simeon  did  not  stop  with  himself  or  the 
child.  He  turned  with  recognition  to  Mary.  Did 
he  know  of  the  angel’s  visit  to  her  room  and  of 
her  appointment  to  lofty  uses?  And  did  he  not  see 
in  her  babe  the  salvation  or  doom  of  Israel  ?  What 
satisfaction  it  was  to  find  her  superior  understand¬ 
ing  certified !  But  there  was  more  for  her  than 
joy.  There  was  a  note  of  discord  or  division  or 
disaster  centering  upon  her  child,  and  with  his 
agony  her  mother  soul  would  feel  the  savage 
thrust  as  of  a  sword.  Even  in  the  early  hour  of 
her  bright,  happy  mood  there  entered  upon  her 
quick  nature  the  chill  shadow  of  the  cross. 

After  the  ceremonies  in  Jerusalem  Joseph  and 
Mary  with  the  babe  returned  to  Bethlehem.  Ap¬ 
parently  they  had  decided  to  forsake  Nazareth  and 
seek  permanent  residence  in  the  village  associating 
their  forefathers.  Was  it  not  appropriate  to  sur¬ 
round  the  child  with  the  scenes  hallowed  by  the 
experiences  of  the  royal  David  and  by  the  recent 
marvels  with  angels  and  shepherds?  Sights  and 
sounds  would  hold  long  among  the  hills  as  sacred, 
inspiring  memories. 

The  return  of  the  family,  it  is  understood,  was 
soon  followed  by  the  visit  of  the  wise  men  from 
the  east.  They  were  added,  eminent  witnesses  to 
the  Gospel,  but  their  part  had  little  to  do  with 
Mary  except  to  furnish  her  new  material  to  ponder. 


Mary  and  Jesus 


47 


Perhaps,  it  provided  for  an  immediate  emergency. 
The  treasure  the  magi  offered  as  token  of  their 
homage  might  have  been  put  to  prompt  and  urgent 
use.  The  harsh  device  of  Herod  to  dispose  of  any 
possible  rival  compelled  hasty  flight  of  the  holy 
family  to  Egypt.  Christ  was  little  more  than  born 
till  he  was  hounded  for  slaughter;  and  did  not  the 
sword  enter  at  once  the  heart  of  his  mother? 

The  stay  in  Egypt  is  treated  only  to  slightest 
mention.  For  any  details  there  is  resort  but  to 
independent  information.  The  journey  took  about 
a  fortnight,  and  the  exile  lasted  two  or  three  months. 
Word  of  the  death  of  the  envious  king  prompted 
return  to  Palestine,  and  the  intention  was  to  renew 
life  in  Bethlehem,  but  fear  of  Herod’s  successor 
stood  in  the  way.  Surely  there  was  an  overruling 
providence.  God  was  caring  for  his  own.  There 
was  dream  to  direct  the  escape  to  Egypt,  a  second 
to  propose  the  return  to  the  land  of  promise,  and 
a  third  pointed  away  from  Bethlehem.  There  was 
a  prophecy  to  be  fulfilled.  Christ  was  to  be  called 
a  Nazarene,  and  back  of  it  was  wise  policy.  He 
was  best  brought  up  remote  from  centers  of  ad¬ 
verse  influence  and  close  to  God — and  mother. 

More  than  ever  earlier  Mary  must  have  pon¬ 
dered.  What  could  the  late  flight  for  safety  only 
mean?  Was  persecution  to  begin  with  her  child 
at  once?  Was  she  required  to  shelter  him  from 
envious  harm  even  as  an  infant?  Was  the  perse¬ 
cution  from  Herod  a  foretaste  of  the  treatment  to 
last  all  through  the  coming  years?  How  Mary 
must  have  known  increasingly  that  she  could  not 


48 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


keep  her  boy  always  apart!  There  was  the  touch 
of  martyrdom  resting  upon  his  life  from  the  first, 
and  it  would  press  harder  all  the  time  to  the 
crushing  end. 

Infant  days!  what  mother  would  not  count  them 
priceless  and  long  to  keep  them  indefinitely?  She 
would  perpetuate  the  piece  of  babyhood  in  her  care. 
She  is  jealous  of  its  growth.  She  pictures  the  toils 
and  strifes  awaiting  the  young  thing  with  manhood 
and  shrinks  from  the  prospect,  hugging  him  to  her 
heart  with  the  pressure  of  pain.  She  can  not 
escape  the  conviction  that  his  life  out  in  the  world 
will  be  tempest-tossed,  that  cups  will  be  offered 
him  to  drink  as  some  agony,  that  his  way  will 
grow  rough  and  weary  and  will  be  ever  stained 
with  blood,  and  whatever  other  period  along  the 
way  is  so  precious  to  her  as  when  her  child  all 
innocent  and  sweet  and  happy  nestles  in  her  arms? 

Was  Christ  a  babe  not  to  smile  and  leap  with 
joy?  There  must  have  been  tears;  what  infant 
cheek  does  not  moisten,  glisten,  with  their  drop  or 
flow,  but  there  were  not  tears  only.  There  was 
genuine  babyhood  with  Christ,  the  surer,  finer,  for 
its  spotless  innocence  and  perfect  health,  and  it  was 
expressed  with  the  glow  of  glad  sunshine.  And 
Mary’s  was  a  genuine  motherhood — with  all  its 
tender  and  satisfied  yearning,  with  all  its  gilded 
hope. 

See  the  two,  mother  and  child,  in  the  shadow 
shaping  a  cross,  but  see  them  little  conscious  at 
least  sometimes  of  its  chill.  Had  Mary  foreseen 
all  the  suffering  in  store  for  them,  she  could  have 


Mary  and  Jesus 


49 


not  survived  the  hour.  The  crushing  reality  grew 
upon  her  experience  only  as  she  was  able  to  bear  the 
burden.  Motherhood  may  border  upon  martyr¬ 
dom,  but  motherhood  borders  upon  heaven,  too, 
and  Mary,  pictured  with  her  firstborn  in  her  arms, 
is  not  more  shaded  with  sorrow  than  brightened 
with  bliss. 


V 


Mary  and  Jesus 
(Continued) 

'"T'HE  life  of  Jesus  was  richly  set  in  the  super- 
A  natural.  Heaven  was  brought  close  to  earth. 
With  every  crisis  there  was  the  manifest  ministry 
of  angels.  They  were  introduced  with  the  morn¬ 
ing  of  the  resurrection,  seated  at  the  entrance  to 
the  open  sepulchre  or  hovering  within  and  charged 
with  their  glad  story  for  weeping  women  or 
despairing  apostles.  More  than  twelve  legions  were 
ready  to  deliver  the  Savior  from  arrest  in  the 
garden,  and  help  from  the  throng  was  observed  at 
his  side  to  sustain  him  in  his  previous  agony.  Fol¬ 
lowing  his  fast  and  trial  in  the  wilderness  they 
served  for  his  relief,  and  they  were  surely  busy 
about  his  birth,  ministering  with  message  and  song. 

But  with  all  the  industry  of  angels  for  the  care 
of  Christ  there  was  no  release  of  Mary.  The 
supernatural  incidents  associating  her  son  really 
required  her  larger  responsibility.  The  human 
nature  of  her  child  and  the  human  conditions  of 
his  life  appealed  for  a  mother’s  ministry.  He  grew 
and  waxed  strong,  filled  with  wisdom,  and  the 
grace  of  God  was  upon  him;  and  the  process  of 
development  implied  the  use  of  means.  He  must 
have  been  exceptionally  free  from  infant  ailments 
and  disposed  to  innocence  and  service,  but  with 

50 


Mary  and  Jesus 


5i 


all  the  advantage  incident  to  him  as  the  Son  of 
God  his  boyhood  as  the  Son  of  man  was  little 
exempt  from  the  need  of  protection  and  training 
to  be  found  best  at  the  hands  of  his  mother. 

Mary  with  Joseph  to  help  her  was  specially 
fitted  for  her  part.  As  a  mother  with  the  habit 
of  true  mothers  in  general  she  watched  and  prayed. 
There  was  a  rare  trust  committed  to  her  charge, 
and  she  heard  the  clear  call  to  be  faithful.  Par¬ 
enthood  with  her  was  no  optional  interest.  It 
claimed  her  attention  as  unavoidable,  urgent  duty. 
Her  child  needed  nurture,  and  all  known  of  her 
announces  her  painstaking  regard  for  his  welfare. 

A  single  fragment  of  history  out  of  the  long 
period  between  the  early  infancy  of  Jesus  and  his 
mature  ministry  is  put  upon  the  Gospel  record, 
and  it  involved  his  mother  intimately.  He  had 
become  a  lad  of  twelve  years  and  had  reached  his 
religious  majority.  With  his  previous  years  he  was 
left  at  home  as  the  family  journeyed  to  Jerusalem, 
but  at  last  he  was  subject  to  the  claims  of  the 
ceremonial  law  and  required  to  appear  at  the 
national  feasts  with  the  rest. 

It  was  no  hardship,  to  be  sure,  for  the  halfgrown 
boy  to  join  the  pilgrimage  or  to  visit  the  capital, 
and  he  was  so  fascinated  with  the  sights  and  sounds 
of  the  city  that  he  was  not  ready  to  return  to 
Nazareth  promptly  with  the  expiration  of  the  week 
or  ten  days  and  was  missing  at  camp  the  first  eve¬ 
ning  out  along  the  way.  Nobody  was  specially  to 
blame.  The  start  may  not  have  been  a  common 
understanding,  and  Christ  was  absorbed  in  the 


52 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


study  of  things  at  the  capital  and  particularly  ap¬ 
preciative  of  the  advantages  of  the  rabinnical 
schools.  Any  way  he  was  a  boy  to  be  trusted,  and 
Mary  and  Joseph  took  it  for  granted  that  he  was 
somewhere  in  the  caravan. 

The  discovery  of  his  absence  was  at  least  dis¬ 
quieting,  and  it  prompted  them  to  immediate  search. 
He  was  not  among  his  kinsfolk  or  acquaintance,  and 
they  turned  back  to  the  city  all  anxiety.  Mary’s 
sleep  with  the  night  must  have  been  broken  and 
fitful.  Was  her  attendance  at  the  feast  to  close 
with  tragedy?  How  could  she  shut  her  eyes? 
There  was  the  pressure  of  foreboding  on  her  heart. 
Dark  prophecy,  she  knew,  centered  upon  his  life 
and  hers,  and  was  it  at  once  to  fall  true?  Had 
the  cruel  plot  like  the  bloody  scheme  at  his  birth 
made  him  victim  after  all?  Mary  was  troubled 
deeply,  and  Joseph  was  thoroughly  sympathetic. 

The  search  was  tedious.  The  place  alone  was 
populous,  and  pilgrims  from  beyond  waited  about 
as  a  multitude.  To  look  for  a  single  lad  in  the 
vast  throng  was  discouraging  business,  but  sorrow 
as  she  must  Mary  would  not  faint  nor  quit.  With 
Joseph  she  turned  to  the  most  likely  places  as  she 
knew  them,  to  the  familiar  lodginghouse  and  to  the 
nooks  and  corners  in  the  vicinity,  and  everywhere 
she  listened.  Could  it  be  that  no  word  of  him 
awaited  her  anywhere  ? 

Another  wakeful  night  passed,  its  darkness  mus¬ 
tering  new  terrors.  The  very  stillness  was  clam¬ 
orous  with  possible  screams  of  fright  or  pain,  and 
morning  came  with  the  relief  of  certain,  prospective 


Mary  and  Jesus 


53 


issues  of  disappointment  or  satisfaction.  It  was 
the  beginning  of  the  third  day,  and  the  search  was 
renewed.  Could  the  boy  be  at  the  temple?  What 
was  more  natural  to  him  after  all  than  the  house 
of  prayer?  Was  he  not  more  interested  in  sacred 
things  than  in  all  else?  Certainly  the  sanctuary 
was  the  place  to  look  for  him ;  and  there  sometime 
within  the  day  he  was  found. 

Mary  and  Joseph  were  astonished,  and  their  sur¬ 
prise  prompted  speech.  Of  course,  it  was  for  the 
mother  to  give  expression,  and  she  indulged  a 
measure  of  reproach.  She  chided  the  boy  for  some 
ill  treatment  of  his  parents,  with  his  thoughtless¬ 
ness  at  least  occasioning  them  tearful  concern. 
But  she  went  too  far,  perhaps.  At  least  her  ques¬ 
tioning  got  return  in  kind.  Why  should  she  look 
all  other  places  and  keep  on  to  the  third  day  ?  Why 
did  she  not  come  to  the  sanctuary  direct?  Did  she 
not  understand  what  was  to  attract  him  most  ? 
Ought  she  not  to  have  known  that  he  would  be 
somewhere  above  the  temple,  preparing  for  his 
Father’s  appointments? 

Clearly  Christ  was  coming  into  consciousness  of 
his  heavenly  nature  and  mission,  and  responsibility 
to  his  mother  was  beginning  to  occur  with  him  as 
secondary.  He  was  bordering  upon  personal  inde¬ 
pendence,  and  he  was  treating  Mary  to  a  startling 
discovery.  Mothers  commonly  are  slow  to  observe 
dawning  manhood  with  their  boys.  Symptoms  of 
independence,  promising  or  threatening  maturity 
with  young  natures,  are  pretty  sure  to  treat  maternal 
sensibility  to  shocks;  and  Mary  was  victim  along 


54 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


with  her  class.  The  Savior  was  growing  separate 
from  the  son,  and  the  discovery  of  the  development 
was  something  new  and  even  painful  for  her  to  pon¬ 
der  in  her  heart. 

A  further  incident  with  Christ,  introducing  his 
mother,  belonged  to  the  period  of  transition.  He 
was  passing  from  his  private  preparation  and 
entering  upon  his  public  ministry;  and  there  was 
a  marriage  in  Cana  of  Galilee  for  him  to  attend 
with  his  disciples  and  his  mother.  Mary’s  part  in 
the  wedding  feast,  to  be  sure,  indicates  that  she 
was  on  intimate  terms  with  the  family.  She  may 
have  been  a  blood  relative.  At  least  she  was  a 
close  acquaintance;  and  when  the  wine  failed  she 
was  concerned  for  a  new  supply.  It  was  evidently 
a  humble  household,  ill  prepared  for  surprise  with 
any  increase  of  guests,  and  sharing  the  embarrass¬ 
ment  of  any  shortage  of  provision  she  turned  to 
Christ  for  relief. 

In  some  way  she  was  assured  that  he  might  meet 
the  emergency.  She  seemed  to  know  that  he  was 
possessed  of  miraculous  power,  but  she  had  not 
witnessed  the  least  demonstration.  She  had  ob¬ 
served  no  miracle  wrought  at  his  hands.  But  she 
may  have  seen  the  signs  connected  with  his  baptism 
under  the  ministry  of  John  or,  certainly,  known 
of  them  from  his  disciples.  Any  way  she  had  not 
observed  him  all  the  years  nor  treasured  his  say¬ 
ings  without  making  discoveries,  and  she  knew 
him  clearly  for  the  Messiah.  She  shared  with  the 
Jews  in  general  the  earthly  notions  of  his  mission, 
and  all  the  more  she  felt  that  her  son  was  equal 


Mary  and  Jesus 


55 


to  the  local  emergency,  and  she  addressed  him  with 
a  mere  quiet  word  of  information,  telling  him  of 
the  failure  of  the  wine.  Evidently  she  understood 
that  for  him  but  to  know  was  appeal  enough. 
What  sounded  like  only  a  bit  of  gossip  was  really 
prayer — or  a  command. 

And  Jesus  was  at  no  loss  to  trace  his  mother’s 
intention.  Her  look  or  tone  or  touch  along  with 
her  announcement  aside  was  sufficient,  and  he  was 
ready  with  his  response.  Was  Mary  surprised  as 
she  heard?  was  she  disappointed?  hurt?  Was  she 
reproved?  The  impression  is  all  but  conveyed  that 
she  was  told  to  keep  her  distance,  yet  she  little  took 
her  treatment  as  a  repulse.  She  appealed  at  once  to 
the  attendants  to  follow  carefully  any  instruction 
from  Christ.  Evidently  she  was  far  from  discour¬ 
aged.  She  counted  confidently  on  the  miracle,  and 
as  results  proved  she  had  full  reason. 

But  Mary  did  not  escape  some  kind  of  criticism. 
Christ  called  her  “Woman”.  To  be  sure,  he  did 
not  design  disrespect;  in  all  the  tenderness  of  his 
parting  on  the  cross  he  called  her  woman,  and  he 
used  the  name  commonly  attaching  only  highest 
reverence,  but  in  avoiding  address  as  mother  he  at 
least  disowned  her  authority.  She  was  plainly 
trespassing  upon  his  personal  province.  It  was 
not  her  function  to  precipitate  his  messianic  ex¬ 
ercise.  His  hour  rested  with  higher  sources,  and 
when  it  struck  he  would  act.  The  manifestation 
of  his  power  belonged  to  official  sovereignty. 
Could  it  be  that  the  opening  of  his  era  should  occur 
in  a  retired  village  and  with  humblest  folk  for  first 


56 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


witnesses  ?  The  determination  was  left  to  him 
and  his  Father  in  heaven,  and  no  one  besides  could 
interfere,  not  even  his  mother. 

The  understanding  was  confirmed  later.  It 
came  with  the  popular  development  of  Christ’s 
work.  He  was  in  the  midst  of  his  Gospel  enter¬ 
prise  with  teaching  and  healing,  but  along  with 
any  mass  of  superficial  believers  he  had  drawn  ex¬ 
tensive  and  determined  opposition.  With  all  the 
rumor  was  spread,  perhaps  industriously,  that  he 
was  gone  insane,  and  it  was  borne  to  his  family,  and 
it  hurried  them  to  reach  him  and  take  him  in  charge. 
H  is  brothers  were  specially  moved,  concerned  that 
no  harm  threatening  him  should  involve  them,  but 
his  mother  came  along.  Her  interest,  no  doubt, 
was  his  safety,  but  with  her  faith  in  him,  with  her 
appreciation  of  his  origin  and  mission,  why  did  she 
not  applaud  his  heroic  stand  and  trust  him  to  ac¬ 
complish  his  worthy  intention? 

Surely  she  might  have  spared  her  son  the  pain 
of  misjudgment,  and  in  disappointing  him  she 
merited  and  received  at  least  implied,  severe  cen¬ 
sure.  She  with  the  others  could  not  get  close  to 
Christ  for  the  crowd  and  could  but  pass  him  word 
that  she  and  his  brethren  were  waiting  out  at  the 
edge  and  wanting  to  speak  to  him.  With  superior 
discernment  he  understood  their  errand,  and  he  re¬ 
turned  prompt,  startling  treatment.  Did  he  dis¬ 
own  his  kin?  his  mother  with  the  rest?  At  least 
he  recognized  and  announced  loftier  claims  and, 
pointing  to  his  disciples  within  reach,  insisted  that 
they  took  higher,  more  intimate  place  with  him  than 


Mary  and  Jesus 


57 


his  immediate  family.  Spiritual  relations,  as  he 
knew  them,  were  more  vital,  enduring,  precious, 
than  any  others.  And  Mary,  listening,  learning, 
could  have  but  felt  the  shame  and  grief  of  misinter¬ 
preting  her  Savior  and  discrediting  her  son.  And 
Christ!  Christ  was  not  renouncing  his  mother. 
He  was  only  asserting  himself. 

The  shadows  about  Mary  were  deepening. 
Hope  in  her  heart  may  have  been  long  alternate 
with  dread,  but  there  was  no  avoiding  the  worst 
at  the  last.  It  was  her  lot  to  witness  the  sacrifice 
of  her  son,  and  Calvary  may  not  be  lost  to  view 
even  over  the  space  of  multiplying  centuries.  It  is 
really  as  immediate,  as  distinct,  as  any  neighbor’s 
dooryard.  Human  faith  any  time  regards  the  cross 
personal.  There  is  the  impression  of  darkest 
tragedy,  and  it  is  universal  as  the  Gospel.  Hal¬ 
lowed  imagination  reproduces  the  scene  and  dwells 
upon  its  plain  particulars. 

The  form  of  the  Nazarene  was  stretched  upon 
the  beams  and  fastened  with  nails,  then  was  raised 
aloft  and  allowed  to  fall  into  its  place  with  a  strain¬ 
ing,  tearing,  sickening  jolt;  and  there  was  the 
pallor,  then  flush,  of  his  face,  the  clutch  of  his 
fingers,  the  gasp  of  his  breath.  And  broken  cries 
are  heard,  and  anguished  groans  and  smothered 
prayers,  with  the  darkness  and  its  long  interval  of 
aching  calm,  and  there  was  the  end,  sooner  than 
expected,  with  the  ruptured  heart  of  Christ. 

And  sometime  within  the  scene  Mary  was  a 
witness,  waiting  with  the  other  women  below  the 
cross.  She  may  not  have  been  present  at  the  first, 


58 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


and  she  may  not  have  lingered  till  the  last,  but  she 
clearly  hovered  close  for  a  while;  and  Christ  in 
his  own  agony  was  not  forgetful  of  his  mother’s. 
The  cross  is  comprehensive.  And  any  who  follow 
Christ  are  confronted  sooner  or  later  with  a  kind 
of  Calvary.  Sacrifice  is  the  law  of  every  worthy 
life,  and  God  makes  sure  that  it  is  furnished  ample 
occasion. 

But  for  Mary  there  was  special  community  with 
Christ.  His  crucifixion  she  took  to  heart  as  his 
mother,  and  as  he  observed  her  in  the  group  below 
he  became  concerned  to  spare  her  pain.  Why 
should  she  remain  to  endure  the  sight  of  his  torture 
to  the  end?  And  there  was  the  beloved  disciple 
John,  her  sister’s  son,  Christ’s  own  cousin,  to  take 
her  in  tender  charge.  There  was  a  word  from  the 
cross,  committing  the  two  to  each  other  as  mother 
and  son  or  son  and  mother  and  apparently  sug¬ 
gesting  that  they  withdraw  together  from  the  har¬ 
rowing  scene.  And  John  took  Mary  away. 

But  Christ  was  concerned  for  more  than  release 
of  Mary  from  immediate  suffering.  He  was  also 
making  provision  for  her  future  comfort.  There 
were  other  children  in  the  family,  all  mature,  but 
they  were  skeptical  of  Christ’s  superior  claims  and 
even  averse  to  his  Gospel  mission,  and  as  a  conse¬ 
quence  they  were  out  of  sympathy  with  his  mother. 
Later,  surrendering  to  the  plea  of  his  crucifixion 
or,  more,  to  the  witness  of  his  resurrection,  they 
accepted  him  as  their  Savior  as  well  as  their 
brother,  but  as  they  were  still  aloof  at  the  hour  of 
his  death  he  was  thoughtful  of  Mary  and  provided 


Mary  and  Jesus 


59 


her  a  permanent,  genial  home  with  John.  The 
self-renunciation  that  was  her  marked  trait  with 
the  message  of  the  angel,  telling  her  that  she  was 
chosen  to  be  the  mother  of  the  Messiah  and  with 
all  the  majesty  of  her  part  leaving  her  to  catch 
some  glimpse  of  the  inestimable  cost,  was  eminent 
with  her  Son.  Stricken  himself,  verging  upon 
final,  complete  desolation,  he  yet  found  room  to 
shield  Mary  from  sorrow  and  to  secure  her  possible 
peace  for  the  remnant  of  her  days. 

Mary  was  no  real  exception  to  common  woman¬ 
kind.  She  knew  her  own  personal  limitation  and 
claimed  no  special  recognition  from  the  world.  At 
the  very  first  she  voiced  thankful  dependence  upon 
God  her  Savior.  And  the  child  she  reared  was  her 
Redeemer  as  he  was  provisionally  for  the  rest  of 
human  kind.  She  was  favored  above  women  in 
general,  but  she  far  from  merited  the  praise  of  in¬ 
nocence.  Like  any  other  daughter  of  Eve  she  was 
subject  for  the  pardoning,  quickening,  heaven¬ 
bringing  grace  of  God.  She  followed  her  Son 
along  with  any  Mary  of  Magdala;  and  by  rough, 
steep,  narrow  way  found  her  salvation.  The  mis¬ 
taken  notions  and  ambitions  she  had  cherished  at 
the  first  were  uprooted  from  her  nature  by  keenest 
disappointment  and  pain,  tracing  the  course  of 
effective  discipline,  and  the  assurance  is  afforded 
full  at  the  last.  There  is  a  final  glimpse  of  her  in 
the  familiar  upper  room  with  the  apostles  and  other 
saints,  women  with  the  rest,  all  praying  for  the 
Holy  Spirit  to  empower  them  for  service,  and  it 


6o 


Mary  the  Mother  of  Jesus 


tells  her  interest  in  the  essential  Gospel  kingdom 
of  her  Son  and  promises  her  the  full  harvest  of 
redemption. 


6 


